Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

The Lifeworld of Mourning Assemblies in Iran and Its Correlation with the Development of Ta’ziyeh in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Siyavash Yaghoubi 1
Seyed Mohammad Mousavi 2
Mohammad Reza Hatami 3
1 Department of Political Science, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Political Thought, Payam Noor University, Tehran. Tehran Iran.
3 Full Professor, Department Of Political Science, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ias.2023.417669.2294
Abstract
Religious assemblies are urban institutions and can be clearly distinguished from mourning processions formed in villages during periods of grief. These assemblies have distinct connections with other urban institutions, including the system of familial relations in Iranian cities, the bazaar, the clergy, and guilds, and function as a form of organization within the cultural institution. Researchers believe that the objectives and aspirations pursued by people through these assemblies, in their specific and original form, can be traced back to ancient Iranian religious and mythological ceremonies, aligning with the goals of those rituals, and have persisted in post-Islamic Iran. At times, mourning assemblies in Iranian society have evolved into structured social institutions, engaging in cultural, social, and occasionally economic and political activities. Therefore, given the large number of these assemblies and their role and significance in Iran’s political and social transformations—particularly during the Islamic Republic era—the researcher has been compelled to investigate the lifeworld of Iranian religious assemblies. The research method was survey-based, and data collection was conducted through a researcher-constructed questionnaire. Quantitative analyses and questionnaire results more precisely corroborated qualitative findings, indicating a direct relationship between individuals’ participation in mourning ceremonies and the lifeworld. Participation in mourning assemblies shows a positive, significant, and relatively high correlation with Iranian traditions among eulogists of the Ahl al-Bayt, suggesting that the more religious and assembly-oriented individuals are, the more traditional they tend to be, leaning toward Iranian-religious traditions, and their lifestyle reflects more traditional aspects. Ta’ziyeh is also one of the key elements in religious assemblies, having gradually developed throughout Iran’s history.
Research Objectives:
1.     Examining the role of the lifeworld of mourning assemblies in Iran’s socio-political transformations.
2.     Investigating the development of Ta’ziyeh in Iran.
Research Questions:
1.     What is the role and significance of the lifeworld of mourning assemblies in Iran’s socio-political transformations?
2.     How has the developmental trajectory of Ta’ziyeh evolved in Iran?
Keywords
Assemblies
Lifeworld
Mourning
Religious rituals
Lamentation

Subjects

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